From scorching heatwaves to unrelenting droughts and sudden floods, climate change is shaking up the way we grow and access food 🍞🌡️. In a recent episode of The Hub, Wang Guan sits down with two experts from the World Food Programme (WFP) to unpack this growing global emergency.
Heat, Drought & Floods: A Triple Threat
Richard Choularton, director for Climate and Resilience at the WFP, warns that extreme weather events are now the norm. "Harvests are shrinking, planting seasons are shifting, and small farmers in vulnerable regions are on the frontlines," he explains.
Meanwhile, Raphael Leão, programme policy officer for Latin America and the Caribbean with the WFP in Panama, highlights how communities in the region are already feeling the heat. Last summer, droughts in northeastern Brazil and heatwaves in Central America led to significant crop failures, pushing food prices up and increasing hunger risks.
Building Resilient Food Systems
So, what can be done? Here are key strategies discussed by the experts:
- Investing in climate-smart agriculture: drought-resistant seeds, efficient irrigation, and early-warning systems.
- Strengthening local markets: boosting smallholder farmers with training, tools, and access to fair trade networks.
- Enhancing social safety nets: targeted food assistance and insurance schemes to protect the most vulnerable.
- Fostering regional cooperation: sharing data, technology, and best practices across borders.
These measures aren't just ideas—they’re already making a difference in pilot programs across Africa and Latin America 🌍🤝.
As the United Nations Environment Assembly meets this week in Nairobi, WFP experts call on governments and partners to scale up these solutions. With coordinated action now, we can keep plates full and build food systems that withstand tomorrow’s climate shocks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
